Portugal supports Timor in modernizing its road network

Infrastructure Portugal and the Ministry of Public Works of Timor-Leste have signed a cooperation agreement to support the modernization of the road network, the Portuguese public company announced.

"The agreement establishes a collaboration focused on strengthening the Timorese road sector, namely through the creation of a technical and legal status for the management of the road network, the development of best maintenance practices and the training of local technicians," read a statement released Wednesday.

In the statement, Infraestruturas de Portugal explains that in the first phase, a team will support and define a new technical and legal framework to "guarantee greater road safety, promote more effective land use planning, and ensure efficient infrastructure management ."

"This action is part of a broader strategy by Infraestruturas de Portugal to strengthen Portuguese-speaking cooperation in the infrastructure sector. IP currently develops cooperation programs in four Portuguese-speaking African countries and in Timor-Leste," the statement added.

Last October, Portugal and Timor-Leste signed the new Strategic Cooperation Program (PEC) between the two countries for the period 2024-2028 with an indicative budget of 75 million euros.

The PEC has five priority areas, namely Human Development, Rule of Law and Good Governance, Public Administration, Public Finance and Economy, Youth and Employment and Oceans Sustainability and Infrastructure, particularly roads.